Machine for



1.1. HAMPSON.

MACHINE FOR FILLING OR LOADING FABRICS.

APPLICATION FIlED APR. 24. I919.

1 3 1 3, 686 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

4 SHEETS --S||EET l.

jyj Jf 2% 62 8 Jizaezzi" r w (70A/2 d/j i i al oLiofl 0 1.1. HAMPSON.

MACHINE FOR FILLING 0R LOADING FABRICS.

IRPPLICATION flLED APR. 24. 19!).

1,3 1 3,686. Patented Aug. 1:), 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

QJWL I J. J. HAMPSON.

MACHINE FOR FILLING OR LOADING FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2 1919.

1,3 l 3, 686. Patented Aug-'19, 1919,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1.1. HAMPSON.

MACHINE FOR mums 0R LOADING FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, I919.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

4 SHEET -SIIET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. HAMPSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAN'D.

MACHINE FOB. FILLING OR LOADING FABRICS.

Application filed April 24, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN JAMES HAMP- soN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing in London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Filling or Loading Fabrics, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for impregnating or loading fabricssuch as cottons, twills and other materials with a filling of starchy orother liquid, the machines being of the kind that comprise a vat or tankto contain a supply of the filling liquid, devices for tensioning thefabric as it is fed to a set of relatively adjustable rotary rolls, by'which filling is conveyed from the tank and applied to the material,and one or more ad ustably mounted doctors for removing surplus liquidfrom the fabric and pressing the filling into the latter.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved machineof the above kind which is so constructed and can be so adjusted thatthe various impregnat= ing and loading operations of back filling, backfilling and skimming in one process, light skimming, heavy slop fillingor heavy starching, double stiffening, and single stiffening can bealternatively effected by it, each of which operations has at present tobe carried out on a separate machine.

In a machine constructed according to this invention, there is a top orsqueezing roll vertically adjustable in position and two bottom rollsadapted to convey filling from the tank and apply it to the fabric to betreated. The two bottom rolls which are independently adjustable inhorizontal directions, are arranged tandem-wise, one on each side of,but at a lower level than the top roll. A doctor knife is so mounted onthe frame of the machine that either it can i be placed in a positionbetween the two bot tom rolls so as to press against the fabric passingbetween these rolls, either in or out of contact with the surface of thetop roll, or the doctor knife can be withdrawn from between the bottomrolls to a position outside of the working zone where it. will take nopart in a loading operation. Means are provided whereby, when the toproll is in use and the doctor knife is arranged and adjusted to pressthe fabric against that roll, as in back filling and skimming, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Serial No. 292,487.

knife will bear on the fabric with a yield- 1ng pressure that may bevaried, and when the top roll is not in use, but the knife has to pressagainst the fabric, as-for example 1n light skimming, the knife will beheld in proper operative position by the said means. v Means areincluded for turning the two bottom rolls according to circumstances ineither direction of rotation. The mechanism for driving the bottom rollsis so constructed that the gears fixed to the roll spindles for turningthe rolls will always remain in mesh with the gears that drive them, nomatter how far the rolls may have been adjustably moved apart or shiftedrelatively to the top roll.

In using the improved machine, considerable economy in time, labor andworking ex enses results.

he invention will be described with reference to the accompanyindrawings in which Figure 1, comprising Figs. 1 and 1", is an elevationof one side of the improved machine in one of its forms.

Fig. 2, comprising Figs. 2 and 2" is a longitudinal section of part ofthe machine viewed in the same direction as Fig. 1, the machine beingshown and adjusted for the combined opverations of back filling andskimnnng. igs. 3 to 7 are diagrammatic sectlons similar to Fig. 2, butto a smaller scale, showing the machine adjusted respectively for (a)Back filling.

(5) Light skimming.

(0) Heavy slop filling.

(d) Double stiffening.

(e) Single stiffening.

In the several figures the same parts are indicated by the same letter.

The machine is provided with three rolls 1, 2, 3 (between or over two ormore of which the fabric, according to the operation to be performed,passes) carried in a suitable framework 4 and arranged for example as inFig. 1 so that lines connecting their axes 1, 2'. 3 form a triangle, thetwo lower rolls 2 and 3, whose axes are in the base of the triangle,being partly located in a tank 5 for the liquid or filling. The threerolls are mounted in bearings 1 2 3 respectively, which bearings arecapable of being moved to and fro so that one or two nipping points maybe provided between the curved surfaces on the rolls or whereby therolls may be entirely separated. Two or more doctor knives 6, 7 areprovided, knife 6 being mounted so thatit can be arranged to operatebetween the lower pair of rolls 2 and 3, and so as to combine its actionwith the upper roll 1, and doctor knife 7 at the ex t side of the saidpair of rolls. Each knlfe is adjustable in position for the purpose ofvarying the pressure exerted by iton the fabric or allowing it to bemoved clear of same, as hereinafter described.

The knife 6 is clamped by means of a plate 6 and studs 6 to a carryingmember 6 fixed to a spindle 6 the two ends of whlch are mounted inbearing blocks 6 arranged on each side of the machine. Each of thesebearing blocks is mounted to slide in bracket guides 6 suitably attachedto a part of the framework 4 and in a position inclined to thehorizontal. Correlated with each block 6 by means of a screw threadconnection is 1 member 15 which is fixed to a spindle 16 a rod 6 one endof which is rotatively mounted in the lower end 6 of the correspondingbracket guide 6. upper end of each rod 6 passes'through a cap piece 6secured to the upper end of the bracket guide. The upper end of'each rod6 carries a handwheel 6 or other device wherewith it may be turned. Byturning the handwheels 6 and the rods 6 the blocks 6 can be shifted inone or other directions along the guideways of the bracket guides 6, andthe doctor knife 6 made to approach or recede from the cylindricalsurface of the roll 1 thereby varying or dispensing w th the pressure ofthe knife on the underside of the fabric 67 passing under the roll 1. Byoperating the hand-wheels 6 sufliciently the doctor knife 6 can, beforethe fabric is passed through the machine, be retracted from between therolls to an inoperatlve po* sition above roll 2 and to the left in Fig.1, of roll 1.

Means are provided for rocking the doctor knife 6 about the axis of thespindle 6 so as to vary its inclination. with respect to the fabric andits pressure thereon. Such means may comprise a link 8 (or there, may

be two such links, one on each side of themachine) having one of itsends detachably connected with an arm 6 carried by the work 4. If twolinks 8 be employed there will be two levers 9 which are operated forturning shaft 10 and thereby adjusting the inclination of the knife 6with respect to The other or 1,s13,ese

tact with it, while allowing it to yield or turn about its axis to asmall extent when meeting with joints or other irregularities in thethicknessof the fabric.

Suitable means may be provided for retaining the levers 9, when desired,in any adjusted-position. Such means may consist, for instance, of a pin13 that is passed through a hole 9 provided in the levers, and,

through one or other of the holes 14 formed in one of the uprights 14hereinafter referred to and supported by the framework 4. The knife 7 isclamped like knife 6 to a carrying height of the knife 7 with respect tothe roll 3 can be varied by raising or lowering the blocks 17 byoperating the screwed rods 19 that are in screw threaded relation with'the blocks 17 and have their lower ends mounted to turn in the lower endof the guide frames 18. The rods 19 traverse the cap pieces 18' and arefurnished at their upper ends with hand wheels or other devices 19wherewith they may be turned. Means, such as the arm 15, screw-threadedrod 20, pivotally attached thereto and passing through an opening in apart 22 carried by the framework 4, and a nut 21, may be provided foradjusting the inclination of knife 7 with respect to the fabric,and-thereby varying the amount of filling in the fabric.

. The rolls 1, 2, 3 are arranged to be adjustable in position. In theform of the machine shown in the drawings the, bearings 1 of the upperroll 1 are Vertically adjustable in upright guides 23 by means of rods24 which at the lower ends are attached to the bearing blocksl and havetheir upper portions screw-threaded and are correlated with nuts havingthe form of worm wheels 25 each of which meshes with a worm 26.

The worms 26 are carried 'by a transverse spindle 27 rotatably mountedat each end in brackets 28 carried by bosses 29 formed on levers 29which are each pivoted at one end in supports 30 on the guide frames 23.Through the bosses 29 of levers 29 pass the screw threaded portions ofthe rods 24 and on their upper surface the worm wheel nuts 25 areseated. The other ends of the levers 29 are each pivotally connected toone end of a link 31 which by means of an adjustable screw coupling 31at its other end is joined to a link 31' which in turn is pivotallyattached to a lever 32 in turn pivoted at one end 32' to the framework4, and at the other end carries an adjustable weight 32 It will 'be seenthat by means of this arrangement the roll 1 is suspended, being carriedby the pair of pivoted levers 29 which are controlled by the pairs ofadjustable links 31, 31. The Weights 32 carried by the levers 32 can beadjusted to plaeeany desired pressure on the roll 1. By virtue of thisarrangement roll 1 will, when it meets with any undue pressure, rise andyield to the pressure but will subsequently return, when such pressureceases, to the normal or initial position under the action of theweights 32 and associated parts.

The spindle 27 is provided with some convenient device, such as a crankhandle, wherewith it and the worms thereon may be turned so that by theco5perative action of the screw rods 24 and worm wheel nuts, thebearings 1 and roll 1 may be raised or lowered. Or the spindle 27 andWorms 26 may be manually operated, as shown, by means of a chain 34passin around a sprocket wheel 35 fixed to the spindle 27 and a similarwheel 36 rotatably mounted on a spindle 36' carried by a frame 90hereinafter referred to and carried by the framework 4.

- Studs 33, screw-threaded into the lower portion of each guide frame23, serve-to regulate the descent of the bearings 1 in the guideways.The mechanism for driving roller 1 from the main driving shaft 37, asdescribed below, is arranged to permit of the adjustments or movementsdescribed above, a drive in either direction and also the discontinuanceof the drive at any time. The wheel 36 if desired may be fitted with ahandle 36 for turning it.

The lower rolls 2 and 3 are adjustable to and from each other, which maybe arranged by mounting their bearings 2' and 3' to slide in horizontalguideways 38 in guides 38.

The bearings are moved along the guideways by means of the screw rods 39and 'worm wheel nuts 40. The worm wheel nuts 40 can be turned by meansof the worms 41 keyed to spindle 42 which would be provided with.suitable means, such as the crank handle 43, for operating it.

Any suitable mechanism, however, which will permit of a slidingadjustment. preferably by hand, and a drive in either direction from themain drive and a disconnection from the main drive of either roll orbowl may be employed.

The roll 1 is driven from the main driving shaft 37, on which aremounted fast and loose driving pulleys 44 operated from any suitablesource of power. Shaft 37 carries a toothed wheel 45 in gear with atoothed wheel 46 which is adapted to operate a wheel 47 keyed to theshaft 1' of roll 1. The wheel 46 is carried by a stub shaft 46'adjustably mounted in a curved slot struck from a point on the axis ofshaft 37 and formed in a bracket supported from the framework 4, so thatthe necessary adjustment of the position of wheel 46 can be effected,when the roll 1 is raised or lowered, by moving shaft 46 along the slot.

The rolls 2 and 3 are also driven from the main driving shaft 37 bymeans of mecha:

nism which permits of the rolls being adjusted in the manner abovedescribed and a reverse drive of either of the two shafts 2, 3 whendesired, while they are in any position. Such mechanism, as shown in thedrawings, may include a pair of bevel wheels 48 loose on shaft 37 and inmesh respectively, at diametrical opposite points, with a bevel wheel 49on the lower end of a vertical shaft 50 mounted in bearings 51, carriedby a bracket 52 which is fixed to the framework 4, and a clutch device53 mounted to rotate with shaft 37 and to slide along a feather thereon.The clutch 53 is slid along shaft 37 by means of two arms 53' which areyoked at one end to the member 53 and at their other end fixed to aspindle 54 which is supported in bearings carried on brackets 55attached to framework 4. The spindle 54 and clutch member-53 arecontrolled by the hand lever 56 fixed to the end of the spindle which isturned in one direction or the other so that the member 53 clutches oneor other of the bevel wheels 48 accordin to the direction in which shaft50 is to be riven. The upper end of shaft 50 carries a bevel wheel 57which meshes with a bevel wheel 58 fixed to a keyed or feathered shaft59. To each of the shafts 2 and 3 is keyed a bevel wheel 60 and witheach wheel 60 there meshes a bevel wheel 61 capable of sliding along akey 01' feather on shaft 59. Each of the wheels 61 has a hub 61 on whichis formed a groove in which fits the bifurcated end of a yoke piece 64which at its other end encircles the roll shaft 2' or 3 as the case maybe. It will be seen that as either the roll shaft 2 or 3 and thecorresponding bevel wheel 60 are moved in a guideway 38 thecorresponding yoke piece and engaged bevel Wheel 61 will be likewisemoved so that the bevel wheel 61 remains in mesh with the bevel wheel onthe roll shaft thus moved.

The tank 5 is provided, as is customary, with one or more power drivenagitators for the liquid. Two such agitators 62, 63, are shown inFig. 1. They may be of wood and of rectangular or other design. They aremounted on the transversely disposed spindles 62 and 63' appropriatelyjournaled in the sides of the tank. These spindles are provided each atone end with a pulley or sprocket wheel 62 63 over which a belt or chainruns. On the other end of the spindle The fabric 67 is arranged to enterthe machine over a fixed tensioningrail 68 and one or more tensioningbars or rods 68 which latter are carried by the uprights 14 abovereferred to. The fabric then preferably passes either over further fixedtensioning bars 'or rods or, according to the treatment to be carriedout, through a tensioning frame which may, as shown, consist of a pairof pivoted disks 69 carried by the two uprights 14 and connectedtogether by tension rods 70, about which the fabric passes. Suitable-means may be'provided for turning the disks and the rods carried bythem in one direction or the other so as to vary the tension on-thefabric. The disks are provided on their peripheraledges with holes inwhlch a tongue 71 on a pivoted pawl 71 can be placed to hold thetensioning device n an adjusted position. The machine may be providedwith a second tensioning device which consists of the bars or rails 89which are carried by a bracket 90 on each side of the framework 4.

72 is a draw roller attached to a spindle 73 journaled at each end inbearings mounted on brackets '74 supported from the guide frame 23. Thisroller is adapted to be rotated by means of a pulley wheel 75 mounted atone end of spindle 73 and a belt 76 which also passes around a pulleywheel 77 keyed to the main driving shaft. 78 and 79 are rollers adaptedto draw the loaded fabric passing over guide roller 72 toward mechanism,not shown, for folding or plaiting the fabric. The roller spindles 7 8and 79 are carried in suitable bearings 80 and 81 bolted to anappropriately supported member 82 associated with the said plaitingmechanism. Roller 78 is adapted to be driven from the spindle of roller79 by means of the pulley wheels 75' and 78 and belt 83,-while roller 79can be driven from i the spindle of roller 78 by means of pulley wheels7 8 and belt 84:.

85 is a guide roller which is carried by two blocks 86 one on each sideof the machine, each block bein adj ustably mounted to slide in aguideway 8 on a bracket 87, supported on the framework 4 when thescrewthreaded 1 rod 88 is operated.

If the operation to be carried out is that of back filling, the rollsare adjusted so as to be separated apart as in Fig. 3 and the fabric 67after passing through the tension devices may pass over the first of thelower rolls, above the first doctor knife which presses it against theunder side of-the upper roll 1 to remove the surplus starch or otherliquid. and then passes out over the draw roller 72 for plaiting orother purposes. In this case the lower roll may be driven in the reversedirection 'to the upper as indicated by the arrows on the rolls-in Fig.3. For back filling and skimming as illustrated in Fig. 2, allthreerolls 1, 2 and 3 may be driven in the same direction and the fabric maypass over both lower rolls and both'doctor knives 6 and 7, the first ofwhich exerts pressure on the fabric from the under side against theupper roll, while the second on the exit side of the last lower roll mayexert pressure on the under side of the fabric without any support forthe fabric above.

' The fabric in this case may conveniently pass out over the adjustableguide roller 85.

For light skimming, Fig. 4:, the upper roll is not employed, the twolower rolls being driven in the direction of travel of the fabric, whichis in contact with the upper portions of, the rolls, the first doctorknife 6 pressing against the under surface of the fabric, but notpressing the latter against the upper roll which for this purpose hasbeen moved away from the fabric.

I For heavy slop filling or heavy starching, Fig. 5, the three rolls aremoved into nipping contact as shown; the lower rolls are driven in thedirection of the fabrics travel while the upper roll 1 may or may not bedriven and the fabric passes around the second lower roll 3 and underand partly around the upper roll, the doctor knives 6 and 7 beingpreferably moved out of action. For double stiffening, Fig. 6, thearrangement of the three rolls is the same, but the fabric travels underthe upper roller only and over the two lower rolls. In this case thetension device comprising the bars or rails 89 is brought into use, inlieu of or in addition to the tensioning device 69, 70.

For single stiffening, Fig. 7, the upper and first lower rolls only arein contact, the uper being free to revolve and the lower being riven inthe direction of the fabrics travel, the second lower roll being movedout of contact with the fabric which passes, as for double stifiening,between a lower and the upper roll.

In none of the last mentioned three arrangemen-ts need the doctor knivesbe used, though one or more of the tension devices would be.

Other variations of the position of the rolls, the drive of the same,and the amount of pressure (or absence) of the doctor knives arepossible, according to the amount of starch or other liquid it isdesired to incorporate in the fabric, and a drive of a lower roll (orrolls) may be arranged in the reverse direction to the travel of thefabric incorporating more starch or the like into it.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the bestmeans I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. In afilling'loading or impregnating machine of the class specified, alurality of rolls, one'of which is above the ot ers and all having'meansto permit them to be moved toward and from each other, a filling tank inwhich a part of the rolls operate, and doctor knives adjustably disposedin a lane between and at a distance from the ro ls to carry on either ofthe respective operations of back filling, back filling and skimming,light skimming, heavy slo stiffening and single stiffening in a unitarymachine.

'2. In a filling loading or impregnating machine of the class specified,a vertically adjustable top squeezing roll, a pair of horizontallyadjustable bottom rolls arranged in tandem, a filling containing tankhaving the bottom rolls operating therein to convey the filling to thefabric to be treated, and a movable doctor knife below the top roll andbetween the bottom rolls and having means for shifting the blade thereofinto and away from an operative position relatively to the fabric andtop roll..

3. In a filling loading or impregnating machine of the class specified,a vertically adjustable top squeezing roll, a pair of horizontallyadjustable bottom rolls arranged in tandem, a filling containing tankhaving the bottom rolls 0 erating therein to convey the filling to theabric to be treated, and a doctor knife below the top roll and betweenthe bottom rolls and provided with adjusting means to cause the bladethereof to bear with a yielding pressure against the fabric and the toroll when the latter is in use.

4. Iii a filling loading or impregnating machine of the class specifieda vertically adjustable top squeezing roll movable out of engagementwith the fabric treated, a pair of horizontally adjustable bottomrollsarranged in tandem, a filling containing tank having the bottom rollsoperating therein to convey the filling to the fabric to be treated, anda shiftable doctor ,knife'below the top roll and between the bottomrolls and having means for retaining the blade thereof in an o erativeposition relatively to the. fabric w hen the top roll is not in use.

5. In a filling loading or impregnating filling, double machine of theclass specified, a top squeezing roll, a pair of horizontally adjustablebottom rolls arranged horizontally in tandem, a filling containing tankhaving the bottom rolls operating therein to convey the filling to thefabric, a doctor knife below the top roll and between the bottom rolls,shafts for saidbottom rolls, a main driving shaft to which the shafts ofthe bottom rolls are geared, and means whereby each of the bottom rollsand its shaft can be turned in...

.1 gears and means whereby the gears of the shafts of the bottom rollsmay be moved uniformly with the said shafts and the latter rolls and beretained in mesh with the gearin of the main driving shaft.

In a filling loading or impregnating machine of the class specified, avertically adjustable top squeezing roll, a pair of horizontallyadjustable bottom rolls having shafts provided with operating gears, afilling containing tank in which the bottom rolls operate to convey thefilling to the fabric, a doctor knife below the top roll and between thebottom rolls and provided with an adjustable blade and means for bodilymoving it at an angle, a main shaft having driving gearing in mesh withthe bottom roll gears, a doctor knife at the exit side of the bottomrolls, and means whereby the gears of the shafts of the bottom rolls maybe moved uniformly with the said latter shafts and rolls and be retainedin mesh with the gearing of the main shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN JAMES IIAMPSON.

